A patient with symptoms that necessitate a multi-system evaluation should receive which type of examination?

A comprehensive examination is the appropriate choice for a patient presenting with symptoms that require a multi-system evaluation. This type of examination involves a thorough assessment of the patient's medical history and a head-to-toe physical examination that addresses multiple organ systems. When a patient has complex or interconnected symptoms, a comprehensive approach ensures that no aspect of their health is overlooked.

A comprehensive examination is particularly vital in acute care settings, where conditions may be multifactorial and where symptoms can overlap between different systems. This allows the healthcare provider to gather extensive information to make an accurate diagnosis and develop a targeted treatment plan.

In contrast, a problem-focused examination is more limited in scope and concentrates only on the specific area of concern, which would not be sufficient for multi-system evaluations. A detailed examination, while thorough, is often not as extensive as a comprehensive one and may not capture all potential issues. An expanded problem-focused examination is also more targeted, focusing on a limited number of systems or problems, rather than assessing the patient comprehensively. Therefore, a comprehensive approach is crucial for adequately addressing the complexities of a patient with multi-system concerns.